Device for lifting and supporting bed patients



Sept. 26, 1967 R. 0 GRANT 3,343,181

DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND SUPPORTING BED PATIENTS Filed Nov. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WVENTOR 33 RICHARD 0. GRANT iii Sept. 26, 1967 R. 0. GRANT 3,343,131

DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND SUPPORTING BED PATIENTS Filed Nov. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR R/CHARD 0. GRANT Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,181 DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND SUPPORTING BED PATIENTS Richard D. Grant, 19015 Shelburn Drive, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120 Filed Nov. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 506,821 7 Claims. (Cl. -90) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elevatable device for supporting a patient over a bedpan, the support structure being a system of links extending between a base and a supporting member, with a rotatable actuating arm bearing against one of the links to elevate the device, and having a latch engageable with the arm to fix the angular position of the arm with respect to the base.

This invention provides an improved device for lifting and supporting bed patients, and has been developed primarily to facilitate the use of bedpan's. The invention is an improvement on the invention disclosed in the application of Anderson and Herring, Ser. No. 221,007, filed on Aug. 31, 1962. The application referred to discloses a device for lifting the central portion of the body of a bed patient, and supporting it at a height sufficient for a bedpan to be slipped underneath the support structure. The elevating mechanism applies a considerable mechanical advantage to the force contributed by the attending nurse, which relieves her of excessive strain and also relieves the patient of the danger of accident or mishandling. The present invention provides an improved actuation for the lifting mechanism, and a locking mechanism that cooperates with the actuating mechanism to maintain the elevated position without risk. Means are also incorporated for assuring that the lowering of the patient will be done safely, and with little eifort on the part of the attendant.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail through a discussion of the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the elevated position of the device, with a bedpan placed under the support panel.

FIGURE 2 shows the collapsed position of the device, which is a condition in which it is first inserted under the patient.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation, partially in section, showing the elevated position of the structure on an enlarged scale over FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the device in the position shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a section through the central portion of the device shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation showing the unlocked position of the mechanism, preparatory to lowering the patient.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation showing collapsed position of the device, as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing components of the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary section showing the engagement of the actuating arm with a supporting link of the device.

FIGURES 11, 12, and 13 show successive steps in the insertion and use of the device.

FIGURE 14 'is a perspective view of the latch'member.

Referring to the drawings, the lifting device includes the supporting panel 20 provided with the central opening 21, under which a bedpan may be inserted as shown at 22 in FIGURE 1. The base frame is formed by the U-shaped tubular member 23 and a crosstube 24. At the opposite sides of the device, pairs of links as shown at 25 and 26 are pivotally connected with the reinforcement structure 27 associated with the panel 20, and also pivotally connected to the base frame 23. The upper pivotal connections are designated at 28 and 29, and the lower pivotal connections at the cross rods 30 and 31.

Raising of the unit from the FIGURE 2 position to that shown in FIGURE 3 is accomplished by rotation of the radius arms 32 by manipulation of the handle 33 controlling the shaft 33a. This handle is usually supplemented by inserting a tube (not shown) over the handle to provide the effect of a greater leverage. The upper extremity of the radius arms 32 is provided with a roller 34 which bears against the links 26 as the elevation proceeds.

When the predetermined height shown in FIGURE 3 has been reached, an extension of the pin 35 is engaged by the hook portion 36 of the latch member 37, which prevents clockwise rotation of the radius arm 32. The latch member 37 is coaxially connected to the lower pivot of the link 26, and is free to rotate (within a limited range) with respect to the link 26.

A biasing action is applied to the latch member 37 by a toggle system which includes the positioning lever 38 pivotally connected at 39 to the latch member 37. The pivot pin 39 is mounted in the hole 40, and an elongated hole 41 receives the spring anchor pin 42 securing the lower end of the spring 43. The pin 42 is mounted on the link 26, and angular movement of the pin 42 within the slot 41. The upper end of the spring 43 is secured to the positioning member 38, and the positioning member is free to move the respect to the latch member 37 through an arc suflicient to bring the spring over-center with respect to the pivot pin 39. If the positioning member 38 is moved clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 8, the result would be an application of force (derived from the spring 43) through the pivot pin 39 to the latch member 37 inducing a counter-clockwise rotation which will disengage the hook 36 from the pin 35. The lanced portions 44 and 45 on the latch member 37 provide limit stops to determine the range of freedom of movement of the positioning member 38 with respect to the latch member 37. Normally, the handle 33 will be actuated in a counterclockwise direction a suflicient amount to free the hook 36 from the pin 35, and the movement of the positioning member 38 to the FIGURE 8 position will then result in disengaging the latch member. If the handle 33 is then released, the weight of the patient will cause a downward movement of the panel 20, accompanied by clockwise rotation of the links 25 and 26. The rate of this rotation is controlled by the hydraulic cylinder 46, the piston rod 47 of which is pivotally connected to the pin 35 on the radius arm 32. The hydraulic cylinder 46 must be pivotally connected to the frame 23, and this may be accomplished by providing that the tube 24 is rotatable with respect to the U-shaped portion 23, and by securing the end of the cylinder 46 to this tube, as shown in FIG- URE 8. The elevating and latch mechanism and also the cylinder 46, may be mounted on one or both sides of the device, depending on the stiffness of the panel 20 and the resistance of the links 25 and 26 against assuming a skewed relationship.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a lifting mechanism including a base member, a supporting member, and link means at opposite sides of said mechanism interconnecting said base member and supporting member, a mechanism for actuating said lifting mechanism and maintaining an elevated position of said supporting member comprising? an actuating arm pivotally mounted on said base member on a fixed axis of rotation at a position spaced from said link means and adapted to bear on an intermediate point on said link means to rotate said link means to elevate said supporting member, and, a latch member pivotally mounted on said mechanism at a position spaced from the axis of rotation of said lifting arm and having a hook adapted to engage a portion of said actuating arm spaced from said axis at a particular angular position of said arm. 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, also including a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly pivotally mounted at its opposite ends to said actuating arm and said base, respectively.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said link means includes spaced links, on at least one side of said mechanism.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said 'latch member is connected to said base coaxially with one of said spaced links.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3, also including biasing means for maintaining said latch member in position to engage said actuating arm.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, also including disengaging means for moving said latch member to a position disengaged from said actuating arm.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said disengaging means includes a control member pivotally mounted on said latch member, and also including a post mounted on said one link and a spring connected at its opposite ends to said post and to said control member, respectively, and stop means defining a sector of rotation of said control member wherein said spring moves laterally across the axis of pivotal mounting of said control member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,216 1/ 1954 Schnaitter 5327 2,668,964 2/1954 Simmons 5327 2,770,467 11/ 1956 Mowry 108147 X 3,203,670 8/1965 Farris 108-147 X 3,224,016 12/ 1965 Anderson et al. 5-327 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LIFTING MECHANISM INCLUDING A BASE MEMBER, A SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND LINK MEANS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MECHANISM INTERCONNECTING SAID BASE MEMBER AND SUPPORTING MEMBER, A MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAID LIFTING MECHANISM AND MAINTAINING AN ELEVATED POSITION OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER COMPRISING: AN ACTUATING ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER ON A FIXED AXIS OF ROTATION AT A POSITION SPACED FROM SAID LINK MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BEAR ON AN INTERMEDIATE POINT ON SAID LINK MEANS TO ROTATE SAID LINK MEANS TO ELEVATE SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND, A LATCH MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MECHANISM AT A POSITION SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID LIFTING ARM AND HAVING A HOOK ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A PORTION OF SAID ACTUATING ARM SPACED FROM SAID AXIS AT A PARTICULAR ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID ARM. 